Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding number sense in animals by confirming the presence of distinct number sense in rats. This discovery provides an important animal model for studying the neural basis of numerical ability and disability in humans. The research was co-led by neuroscientists Professor Yung Wing-ho from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Professor Ke Ya from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine).An animal model has been created by a research team to study the neural basis of numerical ability and disability in humans. This innovative approach uses a new numerical learning task, brain manipulation techniques, and artificial intelligence modeling to settle the debate on whether rats have a sense of numbers. The study, published in the scientific journal Science Advances, sheds light on the mechanisms behind numerical ability. Number sense is closely connected to survival and intelligence.Number sense is a crucial skill for animals’ perception of the world and their survival. It is also a key cognitive ability that is essential for mathematical aptitude, a characteristic of human intelligence. Dyscalculia, a learning disability that impacts the learning of arithmetic and mathematics in individuals with normal intelligence, affects about 3% to 7% of the population. One of the main symptoms of dyscalculia is a deficiency in number sense.
Number sense involves the ability to compare, estimate, and manipulate nonsymbolic numerical quantities, rather than related magnitudes, which are continuous dimensions inherent in.
in a group of items, such as the area of visual objects or the duration of sound pulses. There have been challenges regarding whether number sense can be assessed in isolation from the influence of continuous magnitudes. Also, there has been a vivid ongoing debate regarding whether the sense of magnitude or the sense of number is more fundamental.
Study confirms that the rat brain has a specific area for dealing with numbers
The research team minimized the influence of continuous magnitudes in numerical tests and conducted meticulous quantitative analyses in the study to determine the respective contributions oThe researchers created an algorithm to produce stimuli that would allow animals to concentrate solely on numbers, reducing any other interfering factors. This development is expected to enhance scientists’ understanding of how animals perceive and quantify numerical values. The study observed that rats, with no prior exposure to numerical concepts, were able to gain a sense of numbers through training with auditory cues representing two or three numerical values. Despite the presence of continuous magnitudes, the rats consistently prioritized the number of sounds when selecting food rewards. Professor Yung, Associate Dean of the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, commented on the significance of the findings.The Chair Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at CityUHK and the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences stated, “Our research delves into the connection between magnitude and numerosity processing. We determined that when a particular part of the rats’ brain, known as the posterior parietal cortex, was blocked, it affected their ability to comprehend numbers, but not their sense of magnitude. This indicates that the brain has a specialized area for processing numbers. Remarkably, this is the first instance where scientists have shown that rats can distinguish and classify three different numbers in a single test, going beyond a basic understanding.”
quantity comparison.”
Professor Ke from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CU Medicine expressed enthusiasm about the results. “The research not only resolves a longstanding puzzle about how brains process numbers, but also provides new perspectives on studying the particular neural circuits involved in number processing in animals and the genetic associations with mathematical ability,” she explained. “Moreover, the insights from neural network modeling could have real-world applications in the field of artificial intelligence. In the future, our enhanced understanding of the brain mechanisms involved in number processing may contribute to significant advancements in this area.
